The Meadows: Warren goes two-for-two in Friday's PA Sire Stakes races

Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action returned to Hollywood Casino at The Meadows Friday afternoon with two $49,000+ divisions of the top-level Hickory Smoke and three second-level Stallion Series divisions, all for the 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters.

The first division of the Hickory Smoke saw Captain Vodka and Ridge Warren take advantage of a swift opening-half of 56 seconds on their way to a lifetime-best 1:54 3/5 victory. After sitting third through the early going, Warren moved the Captain Corey gelding past the five-eighths-mile pole before clearing at the head of the stretch and holding off a late-charging Greenarrow Hanover.

Captain Vodka is trained by Robert Baggitt Jr., who shares ownership with J L Sadowsky LLC. and Christine Baggitt.

Warren would score again in the second Hickory Smoke division, this time using a 28 2/5 last quarter to guide Fineline Hanover to a career-best effort of 1:53 2/5. Racing an unhurried fifth for the first three-quarters, Warren confidently moved the gelded son of Captain Corey three-wide halfway through the final turn and from there trotted to a new mark in the faster split.

Ron Coyne Jr. trains Fineline Hanover, now three-for-three in 2026, for owners Ron Coyne Stables, Blair Corbeil, Mike McAllister and Larry + Gregg Stable.

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Harlem Hanover and Dave Palone took the overland route in winning the fastest Stallion Series division. Sitting fourth at the half and unable to flush cover, Palone raced the Bar Hopping colt first-over through a 56 3/5 back-half to pick up the 1:54 3/5 victory for owners Susan Dougherty and Perry Wilson, along with trainer William Dougherty Jr.

The Palone/Dougherty Jr. connection would strike again in the second Stallion Series division; this time with Glenlivet getting top honors. Landing third from post one, Palone used the cover of Emmett Hanover to the head of the stretch and from there trotted off to a two length, 1:54 4/5 victory for owner Susan Dougherty. The clocking was a lifetime-best for the son of Bar Hopping.

Palone completed the Stallion Series hat trick by guiding Captain Nathan to a wire-to-wire 1:54 4/5 victory in his division. Leaving from post six, Palone sent the son of Captain Corey to the front and took advantage of favorable fractions to hold off Credible Control in a last-quarter sprint to the wire.

Captain Nathan, trained and owned by Jessica Hayter and co-owned by Ed Hayter, used a 28 1/5 last quarter to remain unbeaten in his 3-year-old campaign.

For the day, Palone led all drivers with five wins, while trainers Brandon Presto, William Dougherty Jr. and Bill Bercury each had two winners.

Hollywood Casino at The Meadows returns with live racing next Thursday (May 14) through Saturday (May 16) with post time at 12:45 p.m. (EDT).

--press release (MSOA)--